Boys hoops | Hyde Park puts finishing touches on St. Joseph

Closing games has been a problem for Hyde Park this season, though it didn't look like it Saturday.

The Thunderbirds started quickly, then did everything they needed down the stretch to hold off St. Joseph in a 52-50 victory at the third annual Bob Hambric Shootout at Thornton Fractional North.

"We've been working in practice at being patient, moving the ball around and being smart," Hyde Park guard Phillip Lee said. "That helped us win games like this today."

The strong finish was necessary because Hyde Park (12-6) couldn't ever put the Chargers away. The Thunderbirds only trailed once — after the game's first basket — and built a 14-5 lead after one quarter. They led 23-19 at the half, but the biggest cushion they could muster the rest of the way was six points, which happened twice in the third quarter.

A three-point play by Paul Turner with two minutes left in the third quarter pulled St. Joseph (10-8) even at 34-34, but Lee countered with a three-point play on the other end.

"When it was 34-34 we took a bad shot, took a bad second shot and they went down and scored and that was it," St. Joseph coach Gene Pingatore said. "We gave up too much easy stuff early. They kept beating us down the floor for layups."

The early going was when Hyde Park junior guard Marcus Smith was at his best. He scored 13 of his game-high 17 points before halftime. The Thunderbirds' depth was a factor in the second half, with eight players scoring, led by seven points from senior center Moshawn Thomas.

Hyde Park made just enough free throws late, connecting on 7 of 12 attempts in the fourth quarter and 12 of 23 in the game.